The district authority has asked the city council to fork out the money for the operation of a park- and-ride scheme on Sunday, November 30, when the city's annual Christmas and Continental market is set to take place.

The city council's community affairs committee decided to apply to the district for a licence agreement to use the East Pallant House and Cawley car parks for the event, as in the past.

But members unanimously voted to object to the district council request for £700.

They were told one of the reasons for it was 'traffic gridlock' around the city during last year's market, but they disputed the suggestion there were problems.

Chairman Cllr Rob Campling said one of the reasons for the market was to raise money for charity.

"But the district council is giving us quite a big hit with this £700," he declared.

This might take virtually half of the profit intended for charity – last year, about £1,300 was raised.

"This doesn't seem to me the right way to go about it," he said.

The committee was told that the request was based on the fact that two car parks would be taken out of commission on a Sunday, and because of the traffic gridlock last year.

Cllr Campling said no proof of the problems alleged to have happened had been seen.

"This is something we should put up a bit of a struggle over," he added.

"The district council approach appears to be quite draconian, given the nature of the market and given its history that none of this has happened previously. We view this charge with a great deal of unhappiness."

Cllr Michael Woolley said he thought the district council's request for £700 was 'outrageous'.



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